One of the best small manor houses that I have visited is Baddesley Clinton which is surrounded by a moat which is almost 6 feet deep.  The house dates mainly from the 14th century and has three secret priest's holes which were built during the height of religious strife in 17th century England and allowed visiting Jesuit priests a place to hide. One hole is hidden in an old sewer where the priests were able to slide down a rope from the first floor through the old garderobe shaft into the house's sewers, and could hold six or seven people with their clothes and the equipment required for a Mass. Despite searches by the authorities no one was ever discovered.  The interior of the house is very interesting and all of the N T guides were very informative.  After that we went to nearby Packwood House famous for its gardens and old yew trees planted to represent The Sermon on the Mount.